Latch-fastener.



APPLICATION FILED FEB. 10, 1906.

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PATBNTED APR. 2, 1907.

JAMES L. COX, OF SCOTTSVILLE, NEWV YORK.

LATOH-FASTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

.ratentecl April 2, 1907.

Application filed February 10, 1906. Serial No. 303,517.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JAMES L. COX, a citizen of the United States,residing at Scottsville, in the county of Monroe and State of New York,have invented new and useful Improvements in Latch-Fasteners, of whichthe following is a specification.

The invention relates to an improvement in latch-fasteners designed,primarily, for use with double doors, such as cupboard-doors or thelike.

The main object of the present invention is the provision of a fastenerwhich will automatically lock itself on the inside of the door in theclosing of a door and which may be readily disconnected from the outsideto permit opening of the doors by either a turning or tilting of thelatch-knob.

The invention will be described in the following specification,reference being had particularly to the accompanying drawings, in which-Figure 1 is a sectional view with the latch shown in elevation,illustrating the application of the invention. Fig. 2 is a similar viewof the latch proper, taken at right angles to Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is atransverse section through the latch-casing. Fig. 4 is an elevation ofthe latch and casing viewed from the inner end. Fig. 5 is a perspectiveview of the latch removed.

The inventionis designed, primarily, for use with double doors, such ascupboard-doors, wherein one member is carried by one door and the othermember by the second door, the invention being designed to dispense withthe usual fixed strip between the doors and with the independentfastening for the second door.

Referring to the drawings, my improved latch-fastener comprises a casing1, of cylindrical form, designed to be snugly fitted in a recess 2,formed in one of the doors 3, the outer end of the casing being closedby a plate 4 of greater diameter than the end of the casing, whereby toprovide a laterallyprojecting flange designed to contact with the outersurface of the door and permit the use of a suitable fastening, as 5.The inner end of the casing terminates flush with the inner surface ofthe door and is closed by a plate 6.

The latch proper comprises a stem 7, formed at one end with an offset orlookinglug 8, preferably of the usual inclined construction, and nearthe opposite end with a relatively fixed washer or head 9.

In use the latch proper rests centrally within the casing 1, the head 9resting in contact with the face-plate 4 of the casing and the stem 7projecting beyond the face and end plates 4 and 6, the former beingprovided with an opening 10 to permit passage therethrough of the stemprojecting forward of the head, while the latter is provided with anopening 11 to permit passage of the stem beyond the end plate, saidopening being elongated, as shown in Fig. 4, to permit an inde pendentlateral movement of the stem relative to the casing. The portion of thestem projecting beyond the faceplate of the casing is provided with asuitable knob 12, by which the latch may be operated. As thus describedit is obvious that the latch-rod 8 may be revolved within the casing ormay be moved laterally relative to the casing, and to provide means forreturning the latch to normal position after either of these operationsI provide a spring 13, designed 'to cooperate with a rod 14, passedtransversely through the rod 7 and projecting therebeyond. The springmember is preferably constructed of a single length of spring-wireformed to provide an arm 15, which projects forward and is turned overthe latch-rod adjacent the head 9, as at 16, being then passed aroundand beneath the adjacent projecting portion of the rod 14, as at 17,then over above the latch-rod 7 in rear of the rod 14, as at 18, thenbeneath and around the opposite projecting end of the rod 14 and up overthe latch-rod 7 forward of the projecting rod 14, as at 19, beingprojected from the terminal of this bend to provide an arm 20 similar tothe arm 15. As shown, the coils 16 and 19 of the spring are enlarged toprovide the necessary tension at this point, while the remaining coilssnugly embrace the respective parts.

The bottom of the casing 1 is formed with a longitudinally-arranged lug21 to provide an abutment to receive on each side the free terminals ofthe arms 15 and 20, whereby to prevent independent movement of saidarms.

The fixture or other door 22 is designed to receive a keeper-plate 23,terminally provided with a projection 24 to receive the forward orthickened end of the locking-lug 8.

In use the door 3 may be locked by causing the same to move into properposition relative to the fixture or door 22, the inclined face of thelug 8 riding theprojection 24 of the keeper until the forward edge ofsaid lug rides in rear of said projection. To disengage the latch, therod 7 may be partially revolved or moved laterally relative to thecasing, as may be desired, either movement being against the tension ofthe spring 13.

By preference the head 9 is convex on its forward edge, as at 25, toprovide for the convenient lateral movement of the rod 7 in thisoperation of the latch.

The structure is simple and provides for an automatic engagement of thelatch and a manual disengagement by either of two movements.

Having. thus described theinvention, what is claimed as new is l. Alatch comprising a latchrod, a casing for supporting the rod, said rodbeing mounted for revoluble movement and independent swinging movementrelative to the casing, and. a spring for returning the latch-rod tonormal position after operation.

2. A latch com rising a casing, a latch-rod mounted W1th1n t e casingfor revolutlon and for independent swinging movement, one end of the rodprojecting beyond the casing and being provided with a locking-lug, anda spring fixed within the casing and adapted to be put under tensionduring either movement of the rod.

3. The combination of duplicate cupboarddoors, of a keeper carried bythe inner side of one door, and a latch adapted on closing the door toautomatically engage said keeper on the inner sideof thedoors, and meansoperative from without the doors for disengaging said latch and keeper,said means operating by a revolutionor tilting of the latch-body.

In testimony whereof I. affiX my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JAMES L. COX.

Witnesses ROBERT B. WELLS, A. M. STOKER.

